The Last Days of Judas Iscariot - Almeida Theatre

Rupert Goold
HEADLONG: /hedl’ong/ noun
1. with head first, 2. starting
boldly, 3, to approach with
speed and vigour
Director Rupert Goold saw The Last Days of Judas Iscariot when
LAByrinth premiered the piece in New York in 2006 and, as a
long-standing admirer of Adly Guirgis’ writing, immediately
began discussions to bring the play to the UK. Goold is Artistic
Director of the touring company Headlong Theatre and he
approached the Almeida’s Artistic Director Michael
Attenborough to see if the two companies could work together
to find a home for the play’s European premiere. The resulting
production will mark the first co-production since Michael
became Artistic Director.
The last six months have seen the creative teams at both the
Almeida and Headlong working with Stephen to further develop
the script for the new production. We have met with both British
and American performers to cast the production and found an
extraordinary international ensemble for the show. The
production will also reunite the creative team behind 2007’s
acclaimed Macbeth in the West End – Designer Anthony Ward,
Lighting Designer Howard Harrison and Composer and Sound
Designer Adam Cork.
The European Premiere of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a
major theatrical event and both Headlong and the Almeida are
proud and delighted to be presenting this work together.
Headlong is one of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies.
Under Rupert Goold’s leadership it has established a reputation
for ambitious, provocative work on a large scale. Recently
acclaimed shows include the national tours of Paradise Lost,
Angels in America, Simon Schama’s Rough Crossings and a
reimagined version of Marlowe’s FAUSTUS, featuring Jake and
Dinos Chapman.
“Tackling issues with extraordinary theatrical audacity… a company
that clearly intends to continue boldly”
Financial Times on Headlong
Ben Power – Literary Manager, Headlong
The Director & Headlong Theatre
Almeida Projects: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis
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